Gresley Colliery Band has announced the signing of their new principal cornet player, Chris North.

Delighted

Chris told 4BR: "I am delighted to be joining the band at this exciting time in their development under the baton of Musical Director David Hirst."

Chris began to learn the cornet at the age of 12 in Huddersfield, where he played with the Meltham and Meltham Mills Band. On leaving school Chris joined the Army and studied at Kneller Hall, becoming an Army Bandmaster before leaving in 1993.

Since then Chris has played with a number of bands including Bedford Town, Ransome, GUS, and until January, Foden's Richardson.